geoff@tolerant.com (Geoffrey Leach) (02/10/90)
From article <1535@sas.UUCP>, by edds@sas.UUCP (Tom Edds): > > I don't know if this topic has made an recent appearance in the > group, but let me ask a couple of questions about AT&T's OpenLook > widget set/toolkit: > > o does somebody have an address/phone number I can use to get > the official propaganda, er, description, and ordering informaton? > I'm told that this is an Xt-based widget set that produces an > OpenLook style "the same" as Sun's Xview toolkit. There are a number of answers to this question, depending on exactly what you need. Binaries are being distributed by ATT Data Systems (the 3B2 and WGS 6386 people) through normal channels. You can, for instance, buy a shrink-wrapped package for the 6386 (i.e., 386-based PC's) from an ATT reseller (if you can find one). (Wait for release 2.0) On the other hand, if you want source, that's available too. Client sources (which includes X11R3) is available for $1000. Its free to developers. > o What does "the same" mean in this case? What window manager > do they recommend or require? Are the same widgets available? Open Look and XView are programmed to the same specification, which is now available in a bookstore near you. There's no official certification process, so expect differences. There are also implementation levels defined. ATT is at level 1, don't know about Sun. > o What experience have people had with this beast? Is it relatively I've been working with Open Look for six months. 1.0 was not bad, 2.0 is better. The thing I like most about it is the regularity of the design. What works in one way for a particular widget works in a similar fashion everywhere. Also, I've yet to find a need to reach into Xlib for anything that's supported by Open Look. Documentation is only fair, IMHO, but that seeme to be the way for X. Lots of technical detail, very little help in how to get your job done.